Lantana plant named ‘Balandwitim’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lantana  plant named ‘Balandwitim’, characterized by its white-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Balandwitim’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balandwitim’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during the summer of 2017. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Lantana cultivars have attractive flower coloration, dark green foliage, and a vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Lantana cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection coded 3676-B, not patented, characterized by its medium cream-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, semi-upright compact growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is BANDANA Peach ‘LANZ0002’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,317, characterized by its yellow, orange, and light red multicolored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, relatively compact and mounding growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2018 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2018 in Guadalupe, Calif. and Arroyo Grande, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balandwitim’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant:

-   -   1. White-colored inflorescences;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and male parents primarily in having a white-colored inflorescence, increased growth vigor and a mounded-spreading growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Landmark White ‘Balucwhit’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,523. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balucwhit’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have slightly larger         inflorescences with fewer flowers per inflorescence than plants         of ‘Balucwhit’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker yellow color at         opening of corolla tube than plants of ‘Balucwhit’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a more mounded-spreading         growth habit than plants of ‘Balucwhit’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balandwitim’. The plants were approximately 5-months old. The plants were grown in 3-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were pinched twice prior to transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balandwitim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balandwitim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in August 2021 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 5-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 3-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 85° F. (21° C. to 29° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 70° F. (16° C. to 21° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used during propagation stage. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara ‘Balandwitim’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection             coded 3676-B, not patented.         -   Male parent.—BANDANA Peach ‘LANZ0002’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.             23,317. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 35             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,             mounded-spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 31.0 cm. Width: Approximately 85.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances             branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:             Approximately 9.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong,             becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately 43.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 4.3 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 146B. Color of             mature stem: 146C becoming woody 199A to 199B with age. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:             Approximately 20. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem.             Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 6.3 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             3.8 cm. Texture of upper surface: Moderately scabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture             of scabrous and glandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage:             Closest to 137A with NN137A and venation of 146B to             indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and             mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 146C. Color             of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to NN137A with             venation of 146B to indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with a             mixture of scabrous and glandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balandwitim’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 2 to 3 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Hemispherical head, axillary or             terminal. Quantity per plant: Approximately 74. Fragrance:             Strong, spicy. Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Height:             Approximately 2.2 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity             of fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 30.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.             Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 2.7 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Salverform.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in             progression from the margin to the center of the             inflorescence. Quantity of unopened inflorescences per             plant: Approximately 34.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at             apex. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately             3.0 mm. Color: 14D.         -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical petals.             Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape:             Obovate. Appearance: Matte. Aspect: Flat to cupped. Margin:             Entire to erose, ruffled. Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper             petal from throat: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width of upper             petal: Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of lateral petals from             throat: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width of lateral petals:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of lower petal from throat:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of lower petal: Approximately             7.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface when             first open: 11C to 11D with 17A at throat opening. Color of             lower surface when first open: 11D. Color of upper surface             when fully open: NN155D with 17D at throat opening, fading             to a light tint with age. Color of lower surface when fully             open: NN155D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter at tube             opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent at             tube opening transitioning to glabrous at base. Color of             inner surface: NN155D with 155C at base. Color of outer             surface: 14D transitioning with age to NN155D with 145D at             base.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer             surface: Densely pubescent. Color of inner and outer             surfaces: 145D.         -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape:             Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent.             Color of upper surface: 137A with 146B at base. Color of             lower surface: 137B with 146B at base.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, adnate             to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther             shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 1 mm.             Anther color: 13B. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 13D.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Stigma shape: Misshapen oval. Stigma             length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 145A. Style             length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color: 155D,             translucent. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary             color: 144C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Lantana has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Balandwitim’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 